304 



BACKBONED ANIMALS. 



Sloths (Bradypodida). The sloths are confined to 

 South America, east of the Andes. Their bodies are cov- 

 ered with long gray and black hair, that, in its resemblance 

 to moss and the bark of trees, affords them protection. 

 The three-toed sloth is called Ai, from the plaintive sound 

 it utters. Their limbs are long and slender, the hinder 

 pair the shortest, and armed with powerful claws, by which 

 they cling to limbs, passing their entire time in hanging 

 positions (Fig. 331), being helpless on the ground. The 

 two-toed sloth is similar in general appearance. The Me- 

 gatherium, a gigantic extinct sloth, was eighteen feet long 

 and eight feet high. The Megalonyx was as large as a 



FIG. 329. African imperfect-toothed animals, ^ard-vark or Cape ant-eater 

 in the background, and scaly manis or pangolin in the foreground. 



rhinoceros huge creatures, that pulled down large trees 

 with their powerful limbs and claws. Sloths are eaten to 

 some extent. 



Ant-Eaters (Myrmecophagida). These remarkable 



